Mastic-feeding tool with compressible mastic-holding compartment



R. G. AMES Sept. 10, 1963 MASTIC-FEEDING TOOL WITH COMPRESSIBLE MASTIC-HOLDING CQMPARTMENT Filed July" 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P051597 6. AMES 1N VEN TOR.

R. 6. AMES 3,103,033

HOLDING COMPARTMENT Sept. 10, 1963 MASTIC-FEEDING TOOL WITH COMPRESSIBLE MASTIC Filed July 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE E.I

Poaz/er 6 4/1/55 IN V EN T OR.

BY I

A 7' 7' OP/VE Y5 United States Patent 3,103,033 MASTIC-FEEDING TOOL WITH COMPRESSIBLE IVIASTIC-HULDING COMPARTMENT Robert G. Antes, I-Iillshorough, Califl, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ames Taping Tool Systems Manufacturing Co., Harvey, Ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 10, 1961., Ser. No. 123,015 7 Claims. (Cl. 1S555) The present invention relates to a mastic-feeding tool with compressible mastic-holding compartment and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrange ment of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a mastic-feeding tool with compressible mastic-holding compartment that has a dual means for compressing the compartment for forcing mastic therefrom. In my Patent No. 2,711,- 098, issued June 21, 1955, on a mastic-applying and surfacing-finishing tool, I disclosed a tool body with a masticreceiving compartment and a hinged plate for ejecting mastic from the compartment. A handle had a connection with the plate and a pressing on the handle would force the plate into the compartment for ejecting mastic therefrom.

In my Patent No. 2,809,513, issued October 15, 1957, on a recess-filling mastic applicator a compressible masticholding compartment was illustrated and a handle was connected to a swinging plate for reducing the size of the compartment and forcing mastic therefrom. Again in Patent No. 2,824,442, issued February 25, 1958, on a mastic applicator and finishing tool; Patent No. 2,889,- 699, issued June 9, 1959, on a mastic applicator with removable heads; and Patent No. 2,889,965, issued June 9, 1959, on a mastic applicator and corner-finishing tool, I disclosed a mastic-holding compartment with a swingable plate connected to .a handle and pressure on the handle would move the plate into the compartment for discharging mastic therefrom.

I have found that it requires the operator to apply considerable force on the handle to force the plate into the compartment and eject the mastic. This force is in addition to that required to hold the tool body firmly against the surface while moving the body over the surface during the ejecting of the mastic. The result is that the operator is inclined to use a mastic that will flow more readily and will offer less resistance when being forced from the tool body. However, a mastic of a greater density will produce better results.

Therefore the principal object of my invention is to provide a compressible mastic-holding compartment with a swingable plate and ahandle connected to the plate, the handle rigidly having novel manually actuated means for moving the housing with respect to the plate to eject mastic from the compartment. If the wall board surface is taken as the point of reference then the plate will move toward the wall board surface for ejecting mastic from the tool when the operator manipulates the manually actuated means for moving the housing with reference to the plate. This means acts in addition to any swinging movement being imparted to the plate by pressure being applied on the handle. Therefore the handle can be used for keeping the tool body in contact with the surface receiving the mastic and the manually controlled means can be used for moving the housing with respect to the plate for causing the plate to apply the desired pressure to the mastic for ejecting it from the tool body. Thi permits a heavier mastic to be used and relieves the strain which would otherwise be imposed on the operator to supply all of the plate-swinging force by pressure alone on the handle.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the manually-controlled 3,103,033- latented Sept. 10, 1963 ice means for swinging the housing with respect to the plate for reducing the capacity of the mastic compartment for forcing mastic therefrom has novel means for releasing the housing :when desired such as when adding an additional quantity of mastic to the compartment. The bottom of the housing will swing away from the plate as the compartment is filled with mastic.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

Drawings:

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should. be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through the device, portions being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the handle as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the mastic-holding body when looking in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the mastic-holding body; and when looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description In carrying out my invention I provide a tool body indicated generally at A in FIGURE 1, and this body has a bottom plate 1, two side plates 2-2 and an arcuate end plate 3. The bottom plate 1 has an opening 4 therein through which mastic can be forced in a manner hereinafter described. A front plate 5 is secured to the bottom plate 1 at the front edge thereof by screws 6 on other suitable fastening means. The front plate 5 has a V- shaped groove 7 on its inner surface that extends from one side wall 2 to the other side wall 2 of the body A. The bottom plate I, the two side plates 2-2, the front plate 5' and the arcuate end plate 3 coopenate to form a mastic-receiving compartment indicated at B.

I provide a top closure for the compartment B in the form of a swinging pressure plate C and this plate has a bevelled front edge 8 that is pivotally received in the V-shaped groove 7. The plate C can swing from the position shown in FIGURE 1 and move toward the bottom plate 1 for forcing mastic from the compartment B and out through the opening 4 in the plate. A stop member 9 is secured to the arcuate end plate 3 by screws 10 and this stop member prevents further swinging of the plate C to the right in FIGURE 1 when the plate contacts the stop. The plate C is provided with a rubber flange 11 which extends along two sides of the plate and along the rear edge 12 thereof. The U-shaped rubber flange 11 will press against the inner surfiaces of the side walls 2-2 of the body A and will also press against the inner surface of the arcuate end plate 3 as the plate C is swung toward the bottom plate 1 for ejecting mastic from the compartment B. The swingable plate C acts like -a piston that will force mastic from the compartment B out through the opening 4 as the plate swings toward the bottom plate I can provide the body A with any type of mastic applying tool head such as the tool head D' shown in FIG- URES 1 and 3. The tool head shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 comprises a flat base member 13 that has a flange 14 designed to contact with the outer surface of the arcuate end plate 3 land with the outer surfaces of the side plates 22. The flange 14 is secured to the arcuate end plate 3 by screws 15 or other suitable fastening means. The front end of the tool head D is shown provided with a projection 16 and a clamp E has a downwardly turned end 17 for engaging with the projection 16 for securing the front end of the base member 13 to the bottom plate *1. A cap screw 18 holds the clamp E to the bottom plate 1. The tool head D, has a plurality of parallel slots 29 that register with the opening 4 for receiving mastic therefrom. The slots 29 extend a slight distance along the flange 14 and this determines the height of the ribs of mastic that issue from the slots as the tool applies the mastic to a surface I.

It is possible to fill the compartment B with mastic and the bottom plate 1 is provided with a tubular inlet '19 and a poppet valve F normally closes the inner end of the inlet. A coil spring 20 is mounted on the shank of the poppet valve F and yieldingly holds it in closed position. When it is desired to fill the compartment B with mastic, a mastic conveying tube, not shown, is applied to the outer end of the tubular inlet 19 and the mastic of the desired density is forced under pressure through the tubular inlet and will cause the poppet valve F to open. As the mastic flows into the compartment B, the swingable plate C will be swung to the right in FIG- URE 1 until it contacts with the stop member 9. When this occurs the operator removes the mastic conveying tube from the tubular inlet 19 and the coil spring 20 will close the poppet valve F.

I will now describe the handle connection with the swingable plate C and then will describe the auxiliary and manually-controlled mechanism for swinging the housing A with respect to the plate C so that the bottom plate 1 will be moved toward the plate C independent of any pressure being applied on the handle. The outer surface of the swingable plate C is provided with a casting G and this casting is secured to the plate by screws 21 or other suitable fastening means. The casting G is hollow and it has a tubular end 22 that receives an end 23 of a hollow handle H. A thumb screw 24 mounted in the casting G, secures the end 23 of the handle H in the tubular portion 22.

In FIGURE 2 I :showthe hollow handle H provided with a hand grip portion 25 and this hand grip portion is rigidly connected to the handle by a plate 26 that has its ends received in slots 27 and 28 provided in the adjacent ends of the handle H and the hand grip portion 25. The operator can grasp the hand grip portion 25 with his left hand and grasp the handle H with his right hand so as to hold the tool body A against a wall surface I shown in FIGURE 1 and then move the body over the surface. He can press the plate C inwardly by exerting force on the handle H and this will swing the plate C inwardly for forcing lrnastic through the opening 4- in the plate 1 and out through the slots 29 provided in the tool head D. These slots will distribute ribbons of mastic on the surface I as the tool is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow 30 shown in FIGURE 1. Wheels K space the front end of the tool body A above the wall surface I and these wheels are mounted on the ends of a cross member 31 which in turn has its midpoint pivotally connected to a bracket 32 by a pivot pin 33. It is possible to change the type of tool head D so that the device can be used for applying mastic to a corner surface rather than to flat surface as shown at I. The clamp E and the screws 15 can be loosened and the tool head D removed and then a dilferent type of tool head, not shown, can be substituted for the removed one. A pair of coil springs L have their front ends connected to the front plate by connectors 34 and have their rear ends connected to posts 35 which in turn are secured to the swingable plate C. The coil springs urge the swingable plate C to the right in FIGURE 1 and the plate swings within the body or housing A.

It has been found that considerable force is required to be applied by the operator on the handle H to not only hold the tool body against the surface I but also for forcing the plate C inwardly to cause mastic to flow through the opening 4 of the bottom plate 1 and out through the plurality of parallel slots 29 in the tool head D. The present invention concerns itself with the auxiliary manually-controlled means for moving the housing A with respect to the plate C so that the bottom plate 1 will move toward the plate C and without the necessity of producing this movement by applying pressure on the handle H.

If the wall board surface I is taken as the point of reference then even though the bottom 1 of the housing is forced toward the plate C by the manual means now to be described, in effect the plate C will be moved toward the surface I because the operator will hold the handle H to keep the housing contacting with the surface I at all times. In FIGURES 1 and 2, a drum is indicated generally at M and this drum is rotatably mounted on the plate 26 that connects the hollow handle H to the handle grip portion 25. One end of a cable M is wrapped around the drum N and is secured thereto. The cable N then passes through the hollow handle H and over an idler pulley P which is mounted in the casting G. The swingable plate C has an opening 36 therein through which the cable N passes and the plate C also carries an idler pulley Q over which the cable rides. The other end of the cable N is connected to a bracket 37 which in turn is secured to the bottom plate 1. The opening 36 has a tubular gasket, not shown, through which the cable passes and the gasket will prevent any mastic from being forced through the opening 36.

The drum M is provided with a hand wheel R and this hand wheel has a plurality of radially extending projections 38. FIGURES 1 and 2 also show the drum M provided with a ratchet S and this ratchet has teeth 39 which are engaged by a pawl T which in turn is carried by a spring arm 40' that is pivoted at 41 on the connecting plate 26. The pawl T has a thumb grip portion 42 which may be swung to the right in FIGURE 2 by the operator for releasing the pawl T from the teeth 39' on the ratchet S when it is desired to permit the springs 11 to return the swingable plate C to its initial position where it will contact with the stop 9. The pawl T extends through an opening 43 in the connecting member 26 so that the pawl can engage with the ratchet teeth 39. The pawl T is mounted on the spring member 40 that will flex and permit the pawl to ride over the ratchet teeth 39 as the ratchet is rotated with the drum M in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arcuate arrows 44 in FIGURE 1.

Operation From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. I have already described how the swingable plate C can be swung inwardly by the operator applying pressure on the handle H for ejecting mastic from the tool. The pressure needed, however, may be so great that it produces an unnecessary hardship on the operator to manipulate the tool. The provision of the auxiliary manually-controlled means for swinging the plate C for ejecting mastic, will permit the operator to use far less force on the handle because he only needs tokeep the tool head D in contact with the surface I over which the tool head is moved.

The operator can rotate the drum M when necessary for winding the cable N thereon and he accomplishes this by using the thumb of the left hand that also grips the hand portion 25 and the thumb engages successively the spaced radial projections 38 for rotating the hand wheel R in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 1 and causing the drum to wind the cable N thereon. The pawl T will engage with the teeth 39 and hold the drum against accidental rotation in a counter-clockwise direction.

It will be seen from FIGURE 1 that as the cable is wound on the drum M, the cable length between the drum and the bracket 37 will be shortened and this will force the bottom 1 of the housing A toward the plate C in a clockwise direction and the bottom 1 will be forced toward the plate C. During this movement the operator holds the handle H for maintaining the body A against the wall board surface I so that in effect the plate C will be moved toward the surface I in the direction of the arrows 45 shown in FIGURE 1, A tremendous force can be built up for forcing the plate C inwardly into the compartment B or for forcing the bottom plate 1 toward the pressure plate C and this is due to the fact that the leverage from the radial projections 38 to the axis of rotation of the drum M is great enough to exert a tremendous pull on the cable N as it is wound on the drum. The result is that the bottom plate 1 will be swung toward the plate C with a force that is independent from the force applied by the operator on the handle H to hold the tool body A against the surface J. This auxiliary force is sufficint to move mastic of a heavier consistency out through the opening 4 as indicated by the arrow 46, this mastic being applied onto the surface I in a plurality of ribbons and the arrow 47 illustrates the actual application of the mastic to the surface.

When the compartment B has been practically emptied of its mastic or when the operator completes the laying of a layer of mastic on the surface I, the operator can swing the spring arm 40 to the right in FIGURE 2, for freeing the pawl T from the ratchet S. The springs L will immediately swing the plate C to the right in FIG- URE 1, and will create a suction in the compartment B to draw any mastic at the outlet slots 29 and prevent this mastic from dropping from the tool body A and on to the floor. If the compartment B needs refilling with mastic, this can be accomplished by forcing mastic through the tubular inlet 19, as already described. If the compartment B still retains sufiicient mastic, the operator can apply the tool head D against another surface I and then can rotate the hand wheel R until the cable N will move the bottom 1 toward the plate C and against the mastic in the compartment and start forcing the mastic out through the slots 29.

I claim:

1. The combination with a tool having a body with a mastic-holding compartment; a mastic-applying tool head communicating with the compartment for receiving mastic therefrom; a pressure plate forming a part of the comp-artment and being movable for forcing mastic from the compartment into the tool head for discharge; spring means for returning the plate to initial position; and a handle rigidly connected to the pressure plate and being grasped by both hands and operable to move the plate in a direction to decrease the compartment size and force mastic into the tool head; of manually controlled auxiliary means carried by the handle and operatively connected to the body for moving it with respect to the pressure plate to decrease the compartment size in said body when said means is manually actuated independently of any pressure being applied on the handle for moving the pressure plate to decrease the compartment size.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which the manually controlled auxiliary means includes a drum rotatably mounted on the handle; a hand wheel for rotating the drum; a cable having one end secured to the drum; an idler pulley on the pressure plate over which the cable passes; said plate having an opening adjacent to the pulley through which the cable passes; the other end of the cable being connected to the body; whereby a rotation of the hand wheel will wind the cable on the drum and cause said body to move with respect to said pressure plate for forcing mastic into the toolhead.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1: and in which the manually controlled auxiliary means includes a drum rotatably mounted on the handle; a cable having one end wrapped around the drum and its other end secured to the body; whereby a rotation of the drum for winding the cable thereon will move the housing with respect to said plate and force the plate into the compartment for forcing mastic into the toolhead.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3: and in which a ratchet is mounted on the drum; and a pawl is carried by the handle and is normally engageable with the ratchet for permitting rotation of the drum in only one direction to wind the cable on the drum and for preventing accidental rotation of the drum in the opposite direction; said pawl being manually movable into released position to free the ratchet and permit the drum to unwind the cable therefrom.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2: and in which a ratchet is mounted on the drum; and a pawl has a spring arm pivoted to the handle, the arm normally holding the pawl in engagement with the ratchet and permitting the drum.- to be rotated for winding the cable thereon but preventing rotation of the drum in the opposite direction for unwinding the cable therefrom; said anm being manually swingable about the pivot for freeing the pawl from the ratchet and permitting the drum to unwind the cable therefrom.

6. The combination with a tool having a body with a front and side walls and an arcuate rear wall; a pressure plate having its front edge fulcru mmed on the inner surface of the front wall and having its side edges slidably contacting with the inner surfaces of the side walls and its rear edge slidably contacting with the inner arcuate surface of the rear wall; said pressure plate cooperating with said body to provide a masti'cholding compartment; a mastic-applying tool head communicating with said compartment for receiving mastic therefrom; a handle rigidly connected to said pressure plate and being grasped by both hand of an operator to move the body over a surface, the pressure plate being swingable inwardly when the necessary force is applied to the handle for expelling mastic from the compartment and moving it through the mastic-applying tool head; of a drum rotatably mounted on the handle; a cable having one end secured to said drum and the other end passing through an opening in the pressure plate and being secured to said body; and manual means for rotating said drum for winding the cable thereon for constituting auxiliary means for swinging the body with respect to said pressure plate for forcing mastic from said compartment and delivering it to said tool head.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6: and in which spring means is connected to said pressure plate and to said body for returning the plate to normal posi' tion when presure on the plate is released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,889,699 Ames June 9, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 330,984 Germany Dec. 20, 1920 613,928 Germany May 28, 1935 800,333 Great Britain Aug. 2 7, 1958 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A TOOL HAVING A BODY WITH A MASTIC-HOLDING COMPARTMENT; A MASTIC-APPLYING TOOL HEAD COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMPARTMENT FOR RECEIVING MASTIC THEREFROM; A PRESSURE PLATE FORMING A PART OF THE COMPARTMENT AND BEING MOVABLE FOR FORCING MASTIC FROM THE COMPARTMENT INTO THE TOOL HEAD FOR DISCHARGE; SPRING MEANS FOR RETURNING THE PLATE TO INITIAL POSITION; AND A HANDLE RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO THE PRESSURE PLATE AND BEING GRASPED BY BOTH HANDS AND OPERABLE TO MOVE THE PLATE IN A DIRECTION TO DECREASE THE COMPARTMENT SIZE AND FORCE MASTIC INTO THE TOOL HEAD; OF MANUALLY CONTROLLED AUXILIARY MEANS CARRIED BY THE HANDLE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE BODY FOR MOVING IT WITH RESPECT TO THE PRESSURE PLATE TO DECREASE THE COMPARTMENT SIZE IN SAID BODY WHEN SAID MEANS IS MANUALLY ACTUATED INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED ON THE HANDLE FOR MOVING THE PRESSURE PLATE TO DECREASE THE COMPARTMENT SIZE. 